Chapter 22: Camp Training

STORY START

It was a hard day for the campers of camp Half-Blood as they were now undergoing the harsh torture from Naruto that he calls training.

Percy was being trained to fight smartly and as such was fighting the Ares campers all at the same time while doing their own training from Naruto.

Tyson on the other hand was being forced to wield heavy weapons such as clubs and war hammers to great speed until Naruto was satisfied with the speed of his attacks.

The Demeter Cabin due to not being the most war faring of the camp were simply trained to wield knives to at least defend themselves.

The Hephaestus cabin lead by Charles Beckendorf were mastering their weapon of choice since Naruto knew it was hard for them to wield simple weapons and heavy relied on their weapon of choice. So Naruto simply allowed them to master their weapon under his supervision.

The Ares Cabin on the other hand was learning to wield all kinds of weapons from spears to swords to daggers. While Clarisse was being trained by Naruto to master her spear as well as pick up a secondary weapon which she chose which was an axe.

The Apollo Cabin was being trained to wield swords as well since once their volley of arrows run out they have to move to close combat which they were most vulnerable at.

The Hermes cabin was trained in the art of sabotage Naruto taught them how to plant traps in the battle field as well as how to wield their weapons better.

The Aphrodite cabin on the other hand had the hardest time of all being forced by Naruto and Silena to actually train in what Naruto had tried to teach them which was knife handling. Due to most of the Cabin being female they were flexible enough to handle knife techniques and since they constantly carried around a pouch of some kind they could carry their weapons wherever. Sadly only Silena took Naruto's teaching well and kept a weapon on her person at all times.

The Athena cabin however took Naruto's teachings well which was how to handle battle tactics on the fly while using whatever they had on hand to either win or run away. It took Naruto a while to beat their pride out of them before it got them killed though as they would often face certain defeat rather than run away. Needless to say they had their pride beaten out of them quickly.

As for Annabeth She asked for extra lessons on how to wield her knife which Naruto obliged her teaching her some assassination moves should she be able to sneak up on opponents with her invisibility hat.

And the Dionysus cabin simply was too small that Naruto just taught the two members to wield swords since the two members were peace loving people and preferred to stay out of combat.

At the end of the day you could see the whole camp glaring at Naruto for the rigorous hell they have been through. Naruto did not let them stop until he was sure they got what he wanted them to learn.

"All right I know you guys have been through a tough day so for tomorrow just do some light excercises and continue doing what I taught you today and for some good news we will be having the chariot races the day after tomorrow so I hope you guys have found a partner or at least finished your chariot already please relax for the rest of the day and enjoy your dinner" Naruto announced over dinner in the pavilion.

"Hey Naruto what about the camp border patrols for tonight were kinda tired out from your training" an Ares camper asked what everyone was wondering about.

"Oh leave it to me for tonight just rest for now I know you guys trained hard for today so for tonight I will handle the border patrol" Naruto answered getting relieved sighs from some of the campers.

"Hey Naruto what about Thalia's tree can't you do anything about it?" an Athena camper asked.

"Sadly I cannot do anything about it as the camp barrier is something not even I can power alone with my magic it needs something to constantly power it and as such not even I can do anything about it" Naruto said with a downcast stare at the floor.

Hearing this the whole camp became slightly more gloomy if not even Naruto could power the barrier that kept monsters out what would happen to them once it fails completely.

Seeing the downcast looks of the camp Naruto continued on with his announcement hopeful that his next bit of news would cheer them up somewhat.

"Though after the chariot races I guess we could issue a quest to look for something to help the camp" Naruto said in an offhanded tone that everyone caught boosting morale slightly.

"Wait you can do that?" An Athena camper asked.

"Yeah since I am the camp director I can pretty much do anything I like except anything that might bring harm to you guys except for quests and training" Naruto explained getting nods from the camp.

"Well you guys better prepare for the chariot races tomorrow I can't wait to see how you guys do at it" Naruto said as he left with Saber and Tamamo.

"Are you sure that's what you're planning? I've known you since you were a child Naruto I can tell you have something planned already." Tamamo said as the three of them entered the Artemis Cabin.

"Hmm so you noticed that huh? Well I guess I can tell you guys I plan to have the winner of the chariot race tomorrow head for the Golden Fleece. And that I will call someone to take over for a while as I make my way to Circe's island" Naruto said as he entered his room.

"Why didn't you say anything to those campers then?" Saber asked wondering the reasons for his secrecy.

"Because they wouldn't react well to who will replace me and that no one is receptive of my sister at all" Naruto said answering Saber's question.

"Why won't they like who will replace you? Who is it anyway?" Tamamo asked this time.

"It's Medusa" Naruto said quietly causing Saber to raise an elegant eyebrow at this.

"Why her isn't she a monster?" Saber commented.

"No not anymore I was allowed to break her curse somewhat and had her punishment lessened so right now she is as normal as you and I" Naruto said explaining.

"So when will she arrive?" Tamamo asked.

"Tomorrow after the chariot race" Naruto answered getting a glare from Tamamo in response.

"And you didn't think to tell me that my friend was coming over?" Tamamo said with an angry huff.

"Sorry? It slipped my mind." Naruto said with an apologetic look on his face.

"Well it better not happen again." Tamamo said with a slightly angry look on her face.

"Ok well we better get some rest for tomorrow" Naruto said as the two women nodded their heads in agreement heading to sleep as well leaving Naruto with his thoughts alone.

'Phew at least I didn't mention how I was also planning to leave Tamamo here with Medusa well I guess she wouldn't mind that much right?' Naruto thought as he headed to sleep not realizing that Tamamo was reading his mind at that moment to keep an eye on him.

"Oh I mind Naruto I mind a lot" Tamamo said as she chuckled darkly planning something for NAruto making him shiver in his sleep.

(The Next Morning)

You could see the happy mood of the campers as they rushed to prepare for the chariot race being held today. Everyone was running around with tools and weapons making their finishing touches on their chariot.

Percy was with Tyson on the Poseidon chariot being pulled by a couple of horses and the chariot itself looked brand new obviously being recently crafted by Tyson since Percy was useless at such things.

The Hermes cabin led by the Stoll brothers were using an old out modeled chariot that was really rusty and covered in dust obviously not bothering to even have it repaired or at least cleaned.

The Apollo cabin was obviously going to use a golden chariot that was annoyingly reflecting the sun's rays in all directions distracting everyone leading Naruto, Saber and Tamamo to wonder if Apollo had planned this out so his cabin would win this team was led by Lee and some other Apollo cabin member.

The Ares cabin on the other hand seemed to be using a battle ready chariot lined with weapons that you could practically wound yourself by leaning on the chariot and it was colored like that of blood spilled on the chariot it was led by Clarisse and some other Ares camper.

The Hephaestus cabin was being led by Charles and another stocky member of the Hephaestus cabin they had a fully automated chariot that was being pulled by mechanized horses it was like a metal mecha chariot if you think about it.

The Athena cabin was led by Annabeth and one of her other siblings in the Athena chariot decorated in owl symbols all over.

The other cabins chose not to participate in the race as they either had no chariot or no time to build one on their own since the whole Hephaestus cabin was busy upgrading their own.

"Alright campers line your chariots up it's time for the race to begin" Naruto shouted out as the charioteers followed his instructions and lined up across the starting point set by Naruto earlier.

He had spent all morning setting up a decent enough race track that would challenge the racers while having to deal with the attacks from other campers.

"Now you guys know the rules right? No killing is all and no debilitating injuries as well other than that have fun" Naruto announced to the racers who nodded at him in agreement to his rules.

"Now let the race Begin!" Naruto roared out as he allowed the race to start.

At the start of his mark the campers rushed their chariots forward with the Apollo cabin easily taking the lead. Only for their chariot to suddenly flip over as the reins were apparently cut beforehand. Obviously it was the work of the Hermes cabin as no one else would use an underhanded tactic like that.

It was then that their old rusted chariot seemed to fall apart it seemed Tyche was not fond of them trying to increase their chance at winning at all and therefore caused their rusted chariot to finally fall apart as the reins snapped in half and the part connected to the horses simply broke off sending the Stoll brothers into the dirt.

With two teams out the other racers put more effort into their racing with the Hephaestus chariot in the lead followed closely by the Ares, Athena, and Poseidon chariots the race began to get more violent.

The Ares chariot led by Clarisse began throwing spears at the Athena and Poseidon chariots forcing its occupants to deflect the spears sent at them.

"See ya at the finish line Princess, Prissy." Clarisse shouted out as her chariot passed theirs and went side by side with the Hephaestus cabin.

Seeing new competitors Charles prepared to throw some Greek fire at the Ares chariot only for him to be halted by the appearance of the Stymphalian birds coming straight at his chariot causing them to go off course and crash into a tree.

"Damn birds!" Charles cursed out as he recovered from the crash.

"Stymphalian Birds! Percy we need to get to the big house!" Annabeth yelled out as she jumped on to Percy's chariot with a plan in mind leaving her cabin mate to halt their chariot and run back to the other campers to guard against the birds that had suddenly appeared.

"Naruto how did the birds get here? I know the barrier isn't that weak yet." Tamamo asked as she burned a few birds here and there.

"I have no idea but I have a feeling they were summoned inside the barrier by someone" Naruto said as he shot down the birds using his Gate of Babylon.

Just as he said that loud music started coming from the big house disorienting the Stymphalian birds enough making it easier for everyone to finish them off turning them into giant Stymphalian bird feathers as the reward for killing them.

"Well I guess that ruined the race thank you Annabeth for your smart thinking" Naruto said making Annabeth blush slightly at the praise as she and Percy rejoined the other campers.

"It was nothing" Annabeth said with a blush visible on her face.

"Well now that that is over and although the race was not finished the racer who reached the closest to the finish line was the Ares chariot cabin so the winner of today's race is the Ares cabin led by Clarisse please meet me after dinner to meet with the Oracle" Naruto announced making the Ares cabin yell in joy.

"Hey wait I want to go on this quest too I have a feeling I need to go on it" Percy yelled out dampening the mood making almost everyone glare at the boy.

"Sigh Percy now is not the time for outbursts at all and you already went on a quest last year learn to give others a chance as well you are not the only camper here Percy others want to go on a quest as well" Naruto said reprimanding Percy at his outburst.

"Yeah man you already went last year pipe down will ya" a camper added to Naruto's statement.

"Hey I need to go on this quest I just need to alright" Percy yelled insisting on what he wanted.

"Percy I am an easy person to talk to but I will not tolerate your blatant disrespect for authority Chiron may put up with it but I won't so apologize for that statement or I will give you a punishment" Naruto said glaring at Percy's lack of respect.

"Hell no I am not apologizing for this just let me tag along on the quest." Percy yelled out sealing his fate.

"Very well if you insist Percy you will be cleaning up the dishes for every meal for a week" Naruto said making Percy pale slightly but obviously still not backing down.

Nobody wanted to wash the dishes as they were handled by the nymphs and satyrs who washed them in a really strong detergent that stung demigod's hands at the slightest contact.

"Hey Naruto did I come at the wrong time?" a voice called out behind Naruto.

Turning around he saw a woman with long plum colored hair that easily reached her ankles she was wearing skinny jeans and a tight form fitting sweater that showed of her curves and on her face were a pair of glasses. All in all she was a sight to behold.

"Medusa you're early but it is no problem at all" Naruto said with a smile as he hugged her.

"Medusa did he just say Medusa?" acamper asked out loud causing the whole camp to come to arms against the new comer.

"Calm down I can explain" Naruto said as Saber and Tamamo approached him making sure nobody tried anything against Medusa.

'This was bound to be a really good talk with the campers' Naruto thought to himself as he prepared to explain himself.

STORY END

Phew exams are finally done! I can write again please read and review no flames please.

Thanks for reading until next time.